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LRA by Elisa/ACT

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 4/26/2011 8:11 PM (GMT 0)
I was speaking with my allergist today and he told me about a very strict blood testing in which over 450 foods are tested to see how ones white blood cells react to it. Type one test for IaE levels, type two for IaG which are covered by insurance he told me in some states. He then went on and told me about the LRA testing by elisa/act. It is not covered by insurance and the process is basically as follows. Blood is drawn from oneself, then shipped over to a lab in virginia through fedex overnight shipping. It tests types 2, 3 and 4 levels of the blood and over 450 different foods to your own blood to see how white blood cells react to it along with various other things he mentioned. He didnt recommend that i try to do the LRA test just yet becuase it is expensive, but wanted me to try the IaE & IaG testing (which tests for type 1 & 2). Through his years of being a allergist he has only had a couple of patients who have tried the LRA testing and they have all been successful. He told me a story how a patient of his had severe migraines for long periods of time, when they did the LRA testing it showed she had a huge reaction to beet sugar. Once she cut that out from her diet completely, her migraines disappeared. I was wondering if anyone has ever heard of the testing? Has anyone tried it or is it a good direction to lead into? The link to the site for more information is below. Please give any input, positive or negative!

http://www.elisaact.com/test/nonhc/the-immune-systems-role.asp

Posted 4/26/2011 8:17 PM (GMT 0)
That's really interesting. I would do it if it was covered by insurance. I am always pushing to get more testing done but sometimes doctors don't want to be bothered.
Posted 4/26/2011 8:19 PM (GMT 0)
I have heard of the first 2 tests, and that person had a positive experience - though they didn't have UC, they have many other digestive issues. One the negative foods were eliminated, he felt 100% better.

My understanding about this testing is that you are not allowed to be on any meds for 3 months - including even tylenol - which is one of the reasons that I couldn't get it done.

Did your allergist mention that?
Posted 4/26/2011 8:25 PM (GMT 0)
Yes he did, i dont think he said 3 months though that seems like a long time. However, he told me i couldnt even brush my teeth 3 days before the testing if i chose to do it, thats how serious it is. The prepartation is very serious and strict.
Posted 4/26/2011 8:27 PM (GMT 0)
Can you get by without your meds for that long? I know that I couldn't. If I had been able to, I think I would have done the testing for sure - even though I would have had to pay privately ($700) for it.
Posted 4/26/2011 8:45 PM (GMT 0)
@ mom2panda

I believe i can get by without my meds for that long, (their not helping much anyway) but im almost positive you dont have to stay off meds for that long. He also told me that the new testing now goes for over 1,000 dollars but it includes alot more testing to be done with your blood. If u divide about 1,000 dollars into over 450 things that are being tested, it comes out to about 2 dollars per test.
Posted 4/26/2011 8:52 PM (GMT 0)
Curious to know how long he need you to be off meds. Let me know if you confirm the amount of time. The naturopath's office that I called was less than helpful - not at all interested in helping me - but I remember thinking there was no way I could wait that long. She seemed to be trying to talk me out of it. First she told me the cost - even before I could get my request completely out, and then she told me I 'd have to be med-free for the 3 months. Seemed like she was trying to get me to NOT do it.
Posted 4/26/2011 9:01 PM (GMT 0)
First I tried Elisa testing from a company in Florida. They turned out to be con artists. They took my credit card and then ignored my phone calls. I called Florida regulators and they said they had many complaints about them. When I called my credit card company to retract the sale, they sent me a report saying that I was allergic to the usual suspects like milk. I took the report as garbage.

Next I went to a company recommended by my PCP. This new report said I was allergic to beef and broccoli. Maybe I am but I don’t notice it. I do notice thru trial and error that I have problems with gluten, kale, shellfish, plums and hummus. This new report did not mention any problems with those foods.

I would say save your money. Food allergy tests are notoriously unreliable. There are other members here on this forum who have been tested and given a green light for gluten and later found it to be a source of flares.
Posted 4/26/2011 9:01 PM (GMT 0)
ill find out next tuesday when i see him again. I start my allergy shots then, so i will ask him the exact process.
Posted 4/26/2011 9:30 PM (GMT 0)
@ babeinthewoods

hmmm interesting. Looks like i need to keep a journal and do a little trial and error myself. The one he was talking about had the their headquarters located in Virginia. He has only had a couple patients actually do the testing, and they all have had success in whatever symptoms they had. I don't see him trying to scam me, he was telling me that this test is an option and wasn't really pushing it at all (also recommended that i dont jump into it right away). He told me to go online & post about it, to see what experiences people with my condition had with it or if they ever heard of it at all, so thanks for the info. Also, which VSL3 do you take? Capsules or powder? i also see in your sig that you mix it with Psyllium seed. Why is that effective?
Posted 4/27/2011 12:09 AM (GMT 0)
Also, which VSL3 do you take? Capsules or powder? i also see in your sig that you mix it with Psyllium seed. Why is that effective?

Watching my diet is the mainstay of my remission. It doesn’t matter what supplements I take, if I eat a triggering food then I find myself on the road to flarestown.

I am allergic to the safer 5-ASA maintenance meds but if you do a little research you will find studies showing that supplements such as boswellia and turmeric are just as effective. I think they are helpful.

If you scan our signatures you will find that probiotics and some form of soluble fiber are very popular for most. VSL3 is probably the most popular probiotic. I take that as my mainstay but also take another probiotic, whatever is on sale, for diversity. You cannot have too many kinds of good bacteria.

The most popular soluble fiber here is psyllium husks such as Metamucil or Citrucel. I have seen research indicating that powdered psyllium seed is more effective and helps stimulate butyrate production in the colon. But it tastes terrible so I wonder if I am better off with Metamucil because I would take it more often.

I have been taking tons of supplements my whole life so I try to get pills with the fewest fillers and binders. I suspect supplements do not agree with everybody because they are unknowingly ingesting junk like propylene glycol and magnesium stearate in their pills. So I prefer VSL3 powder because it has less inert ingredients.

VSL3 can be bought OTC but it is pricey. A progressive doctor can prescribe it so that health insurance can help pay for it. I no longer take it everyday because my health insurance has a huge deductible and I am paying full price for VSL#3DS this year. Last year was not a problem because at the height of my flare I had so many tests and procedures that I easily met my deductible.

I find mixing apple sauce, blueberries, psyllium seed, and VSL3 very effective for preventing and recovering from flares. It is my STOPPER after doing something stupid like drinking a Starbucks hot cocoa.

Another supplement you may be interested in is having your blood levels of vitamin D checked the next time you have blood work done.

Post Edited (BabeintheWoods) : 4/26/2011 6:17:35 PM (GMT-6)

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